By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor Soccer America Magazine FLICKERING FIRE: Chicago's attack rarely ignited Wednesday during a dispiriting 3-0 home loss to New England and Saturday the Fire plays at Columbus, which hasn't conceded a goal in two home games this season. Second-half subs Chris Rolfe, Chad Barrett and Andy Herron did what they could to spark the offense, following a mostly lackluster display fronted by Nate Jaqua, who scored the only goal of a 1-0 win over the Metros the week before yet seldom threatened the Revs' goal. Twice he latched onto passes inside …

MLS Previews (April 30)Saturday, April 30, 4 pm ET/3 pm CT/1 pm PTKANSAS CITY (1-1-1, 4 pts) vs. D.C. UNITED (1-2-1, 4 pts)TV: ESPN2.Key Players Out: Kansas City - MF John Minagawa-Webster (R ankle sprain); MF Doug Lascody (R ankle sprain); D.C. United - MF Dema Kovalenko (Jones fracture); DF Bryan Namoff (rib avulsion fracture);Referee: Brian Hall.Saturday, April 30, 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PTNEW ENGLAND (3-0-1, 10 pts) vs. CHIVAS USA (0-3-1, 1 pt)TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports En Espanol, WB-56, Fox Sports Net West.Direct Kick: DirecTV - 791; Dish Net - 464, In Demand.Key Players Out: New England …

(From the March 21, 2005 issue of Soccer America Magazine)Manfred Schellscheidt, who has collected pro, amateur and youth national championships and now heads U.S. SoccerÆs U-14 boys development program, lets the game do the teaching.By Mike Woitalla Soccer America Magazine It was 34 years ago when Manfred ''Manny'' Schellscheidt became the first coach granted an ''A'' license by the U.S. Soccer Federation. He has since coached at every level of the U.S. menÆs national team program and is now thoroughly enjoying his role as technical director of U.S. SoccerÆs U-14 boys development program.''These are the babies,'' he says. ''Most of …

April 26 AC Milan (Italy) 2 (Shevchenko 42, Tomasson 90) PSV (Net.) 0April 27 Chelsea (Eng.) 0 Liverpool (Eng.) 0.

MLS SUMMARY (April 27)April 27 in ChicagoChicago 0 New England 3. Goals: Dempsey (Joseph, Twellman) 32, Noonan (Riley, Dempsey) 43, Twellman 95+.Chicago - Thornton, Brown (Herron, 78), Curtin, Caballero, Gray, Armas, Marsch (Rolfe, 69), Guerrero, Thiago, Jaqua (Barrett, 72), Mapp.New England - Reis, Heaps, Parkhurst, John, Riley (Vercollone, 86), Dempsey, Dorman, Joseph, Leonard, Twellman, Noonan. Yellow Cards: Chicago - Caballero 14, Marsch 28, Brown 72; New England - Heaps 48, Joseph 70.Referee: Abiodun Okulaja.Att.: n/a.

(From the April 25, 2005 issue of Soccer America Magazine.) It didn't take long for Landon Donovan to burn his bridges in Germany, yet he insists he left MLS in good faith and returned because Los Angeles made a lot more sense than Leverkusen. He explains why in an exclusive interview. By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor SOCCER AMERICA MAGAZINE As much as he wanted it to happen, Landon Donovan's debut as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy triggered more unease and uncertainty than he'd felt in quite a while. "I was nervous …

By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor Soccer America Magazine 'GAME' RECAP: By now, word has spread that filmmakers Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh took some factual liberties with the story of the U.S. team that stunned England, 1-0, in the 1950 World Cup. The England game was the second game played by the U.S. at the tournament, not the first as depicted in the film, "The Game of Their Lives." That touching scene when the players are first handed their uniforms at a U.S. air force base in Brazil never happened but it was certainly great cinema. And …

MLS Preview (April 26)Wednesday, April 26, 7 pm ET/6 pm CT/4 pm PTCHICAGO (2-1-1, 7 pts) vs. NEW ENGLAND (2-0-1, 7 pts)TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports Net New England.Direct Kick: DirecTV - 791; Dish Net - 464.Key Players Out: Chicago - MD Craig Capano (L torn ACL); New England - GK Kyle Singer (R shoulder sprain).Referee: Hilario Grajeda.

GOALKEEPERBryan Hill Harrisburg. Eight saves, two shutouts in 0-0 tie, 1-0 winDEFENDERSPaul Caffrey Long Island. Goal, assist in 4-1 win over Northern VirginiaDerek Smith Cincinnati. Solid play in 0-0 tie versus HarrisburgKyle Fletcher Western Mass. Long goal in 3-1 loss at WilmingtonMIDFIELDERSMo Oduor Harrisburg. Game-winner in 1-0 win over PittsburghDustin Swinehart Charlotte. Hat-trick, assist in win over Northern VirginiaJack Cummings Cincinnati. Goal in 1-1 tie versus HarrisburgEverson Maciel Western Mass. Solid play in 0-0 tie at CharlotteFORWARDSJames Gledhill Wilmington. Goal, two assists in 3-0 win over Northern VirginiaDerek Popovich Wilmington. Game-winner in 3-1 win over Western MassJacob Coggins Charlotte. …

GOALKEEPERRonnie Pascale Richmond. Nine saves in wins over Atlanta, Virginia BeachDEFENDERSRussell Hutchison Virginia Beach. Game-winner in 1-0 win over RichmondRumba Munthali Toronto. Solid play in 0-0 tie at VancouverKevin Knight Richmond. Assist in 3-1 win over AtlantaMIDFIELDERSDarren Caskey Virginia Beach. Goal, assist in weekend split against RichmondAlfredo Valente Vancouver. Solid play in 0-0 tie versus TorontoChris Goos Charleston. Lone goal in 2-1 loss to AtlantaKris Stone Atlanta. Assist in 2-0 win at Virginia BeachFORWARDSMatthew Delicate Richmond. Three goals in wins over Atlanta, Virginia BeachFabian Dawkins Atlanta. Four goals in wins at Virginia Beach, CharlestonByron Alvarez Portland. Goal in 3-0 win …

Burned ... Rapid Bucharest captain Vasile Maftei has been forced to sit out a midweek Romanian league game after suffering a burn on his inner thigh while sliding on lime powder used to mark the sidelines at Brasov's field. Selling out ... Barcelona, which has always left the front of its azulgrana (blue-maroon) jerseys clean of advertising is set to break its tradition, according to press reports that indicate the Chinese government is willing to pay $24.83 million per season to promote the 2008 Olympics it's hosting. Qatar Airlines is also interested in advertising on Catalan club's players' chests. …

$281 million Total prize money at the 2006 World Cup, a 38 percent increase from the 2002 World Cup. $20.6 million Prize money winner of the 2006 World Cup will earn, which is more than double of what Brazil hauled in for winning the 2002 World Cup. $5.9 million Minimum amount a team will earn at the 2006 World Cup.

Chicago Fire rookie Chad Barrett set up goals by Benny Feilhaber, Will John and Danny Szetela before Tim Ward added a fourth goal as the U.S. under-20 national team beat the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division, 4-1, Monday night in Seattle.The Under-20s will play their next preparation match in three weeks when they face Canada on May 18 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. áá ôWe hadnÆt seen a few of our players for about a month, so it was beneficial to get them back into the fold,ö said U.S. Under-20 coach Sigi Schmid. ôIt took …

(All times ET unless noted. Consult your regular television listings guides for availability in your area. Schedules are subject to change. FRIDAY, April 29 ESPN Deportes Dutch Eredivisie TWENTE-PSV (live) 12:55 pm. SATURDAY, April 30 ESPN2 MLS KANSAS CITY-D.C. UNITED (live), 4 pm. MLS DIRECT KICK NEW ENGLAND-CHIVAS USA (live), 7:30 pm. DirecTV: 791; Dish Net: 464, In Demand. COLORADO-METROSTARS (live), 9 pm. DirecTV: 792; Dish Net: 463, In Demand. REAL SALT LAKE-SAN JOSE (live), 9:30 pm. DirecTV: 793; Dish Net: 462, In Demand. LOS ANGELES-FC DALLAS (live), 10 pm. DirecTV: 794; …

Winners: Week 4 of the MLS season provided the HIGHEST SCORING WEEKEND of the season as 22 goals fell in six games for a 3.6 goals per game average. D.C. United and New England, in their first meeting since last season's 3-3 playoff barn-burner (followed by a United PK win), treated RFK fans to a 4-3 game, but this time the visitors were victorious. In other high-scoring affairs, L.A. downed Chivas USA, 3-1, in MLS's first derby and San Jose notched a 3-2 comeback win over Kansas City. American midfielder DaMARCUS BEASLEY played the full 90 minutes in …